Santos Tour Down Under: stage 3 report and photos

Cadel comes out to play

by Matt de Neef

If there was any doubt about Cadel Evans' intentions to win the 2014 Santos Tour Down Under, that doubt was well and truly erased on the steep climb up Corkscrew Road today. Evans put in one of the most impressive attacks of his illustrious career, riding away from his GC rivals, winning the stage and putting himself comfortably in the overall lead.

Another day of the Santos Tour Down Under, another Drapac-lead breakaway. After Will Clarke’s two days in the sun it was Travis Meyer’s turn to fly the flag for Australia’s only ProContinental team and 9km into the stage he was joined by Jerome Cousin (Europcar), Andriy Grivko (Astana) and Jens Voigt (Trek).

Together the foursome worked to establish a lead of little more than two minutes as they sped north east out of Adelaide.

The first intermediate sprint of the 145km stage came after 38.7km and it was Travis Meyer who jumped clear of his fellow escapees to take the five sprint points and the three bonus seconds. Grivko crossed the line second with Cousin taking the final points on offer.

The second and final intermediate sprint of the day came just 15km later in Williamstown. This time it was Grivko who moved away to claim maximum points while Meyer and Cousin rounded out the top three.

At this point, with the leaders’ advantage hovering around the two minute mark, Andriy Grivko became the virtual leader on the road. But there would have been little concern in the main field — the break was well and truly within reach and with the tough Corkscrew Road climb still remaining, the big hitters were sure to have him covered.

The gap had dropped below the two minute mark as the leaders made their way east from Williamstown to Springton but with 50km to go it was back out above two minutes. Jens Voigt was doing the majority of the pacemaking while Jerome Cousin was struggling at the back of the breakaway. The elastic eventually snapped for the Frenchman and he fell away, the peloton eventually swallowing him up.

In the main field it was Matt Goss and Michael Matthews controlling proceedings for their Orica-GreenEDGE teammate and race leader Simon Gerrans.

With 32km to go Goss and Matthews were still on the front with Astana, Sky and Lotto-Belisol all represented as well. And with 25km to go the riders turned on to the fast and flowing Gorge Road for the downhill run towards the day’s only categorised climb.

At one time it looked like the break might have reached the Corkscrew Road climb with a slight advantage but with the peloton riding hard down Gorge Road the gap was reduced very quickly.

With 20km remaining in the stage and 10km to the start of the KOM the gap was 1:30 but two kilometres later the deficit had been slashed in half. Travis Meyer got dropped from the breakaway roughly 18km from the finish and when the remaining two riders, Jens Voigt and Andriy Grivko, were caught there was just 17km to go.

Cannondale took to the front, and so did Sky and then it was a free for all, all teams fighting for position ahead of the left-hand turn on to Corkscrew Road for the one and only climb of the day.

As the peloton hit the climb, unwanted bidons were discarded left and right, riders keen to rid themselves of any unnecessary weight for the climb ahead. BMC’s Steve Morabito took to the front as the road tilted up with Cadel Evans sitting pretty in second wheel. The winner of last year’s Corkscrew stage, Geraint Thomas looked threatening behind Evans.

In the space of a few hundred metres of climbing the roughly 100-strong peloton was reduced to just 25 riders as the leaders twisted and turned toward the summit, the select group getting ever smaller.

With 8.7km to go in the stage Cadel Evans hit out from behind his BMC teammates and took matters into his own hands. Richie Porte (Sky) managed to hold Evans’ wheel but the race leader, Simon Gerrans, was a little further down the hill, all chasing left to him.

After 700m spent riding with his Sky adversary, Cadel Evans opened up a bit of a gap on Porte while Gerrans took up the chase behind. Gerrans caught Porte 300m later and together they continued to work at the advantage of Cadel Evans. But there was no stopping the winner of the 2011 Tour de France.

With a couple hundred metres left in the climb, Evans changed into the big ring before powering over the summit of the climb with a 15 second advantage over the two men he shared the Australian road nationals podium with barely a week before.

Behind Porte and Gerrans a chase group of nine riders had formed and by the time the descent began they’d caught the pair ahead. Evans, meanwhile, was descending towards a stage victory, presumably benefiting from the fact he and his BMC team had ridden the Corkscrew descent no fewer than seven times in the lead-up to today’s race.

Evans’ lead flucatuated slightly on the 7km run in to the line but when he crossed the line to win his second Santos Tour Down Under stage he did so 15 seconds ahead of the 12-strong chase group.

With his commanding win Cadel Evans goes to the head of the general classification, a handy 12 seconds clear of Simon Gerrans. Diego Ulissi, who finished in the chase group today, holds on to third place a further three seconds back.

In his post-race interview Evans seemed less interested in the stage win he’d just managed and more focused on the general classification. From here the onus is back on Simon Gerrans and others to attack Evans when it comes to stage 5 on the slopes of the famous Willunga Hill climb. If today’s stage is anything to go by, Saturday’s race will be one to remember.

Before that though the race heads to Victor Harbour where the fastmen will get a chance to show their wares. For Evans and co. at the top of the GC, it’s a day to sit in, stay out of trouble and save their energy for Saturday’s tussle for the overall lead.

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Bradley Linfield (UniSA/Australia) pins on his numbers pre-race.

Jussi Veikkanen (FDJ.fr), the Finnish national road race champion, came 10th overall at last year’s Tour Down Under.

Is there any rider in the pro peloton with better hair than Marcel Kittel?

If Nathan Haas was in a good mood pre-race, he would be even more pleased by the end of the day after he led home the chase group to finish second on the stage.

Geoffrey Soupe (FDJ.fr) in the team van before the race got undeerway.

I don’t think Gerrans can afford to sit in. He needs seconds – presumably he cannot bank on getting a podium spot in a classic sprinters finish tomorrow so perhaps try and control the peloton so he can go for intermediate sprints and valuable seconds? Then he can bank on sitting on Cadel’s wheel on Saturday and then take the sprint at the top of Willunga. If I am right, Rik Zabel needs to earn his keep tomorrow and deny Gerrans in any sprint effort.

Matt de Neef

Yeah, I think we’ll certainly see Gerrans come to the fore to contest the intermediate sprints … if there’s any time available. Remember there are only time bonuses on offer for the first three riders across the line. If there’s a break of three or more up the road then he won’t get any time (and BMC certainly won’t let him anywhere near a breakaway).

The first sprint point comes after 25.5km and you’d think a breakaway would be established at that point. But the second intermediate sprint comes after 116km, roughly 35km from the finish. I reckon it’s more likely that Gerrans will be able to contest this one. GreenEDGE might let a break go then time it so they reel them in just before the 2nd sprint point, giving Gerrans a chance.

But even if Gerrans was somehow able to win both intermediate sprints that’s six seconds. Cadel’s up by 12 seconds at the moment which means Gerrans either has to find a way to get more time off Cadel at the finish tomorrow (only the first three places get bonus time – 10, 6 and 4 seconds) or it has to be Willunga.

I think Cadel’s in the box seat here.

Tricky Dicky

All good points, although OGE may still try and control the peloton until the 1st point. Don’t forget there’s sprints up for grabs on Saturday & Sunday too. Plus, it’s not out of the question that Ulissi could get between Gerrans and Evans at the top of Willunga, which isn’t quite as steep as yesterday’s stage so may suit him a little better. All up, I don’t think Evans can risk sitting in with either of them to the top on Saturday. Anyway, really nice to see something other than a OGE procession.

Rob

I’d love that BMC carry bag.

Michele

Thank you Cycling Tips. In all my many years of following cycling, I think they are the best set of photos I have ever seen (considering they are all from the same stage). Brilliant!!

winky

Yes, really great shots. Significantly better than those that the girl in the g&g jersey who watched the race through her iPhone took, I’ll bet. Why would you travel all the way out to watch the race then essentially watch it on a phone screen, just to get some really crappy pictures?

(BTW, Cycling News could really learn something from this site about posting photographs. Their system is as bad as it gets.)

Sean

Oh man I hate people like that. There was a study done that showed when people do what the idiot near you did, they generally can’t recall much of the experience.

Michele

P.S. I really hope that isn’t Mike’s hand on Cadel’s left shoulder. We all know how that ended the last time he did that. :)

Manoah Gutknecht

:) Good observation… One must be careful around Cadel!!!

Mark

chapeau, Cadel.

Dave

Very special to be at the finish to see that today, Cadel Evans winning a bike race in Australia is extremely rare, and could well be the last time with retirement looming not too far away.

If he decides to retire after this season finishes I hope the national team offers him the opportunity to give back to the fans with a farewell ride at the 2015 TDU in the UniSA-Australia colours, like they did for Patrick Jonker.

Dave S

I know the talk of him retiring has been abundant, but Cadel just showed a red hot Gerrans & many of the best cyclists in the world a clean pair of heels. That ride today was as good as you’ll ever see! If he retires after this season, it would be to go out on top, because he is in sparkling form and a hot tip for the Giro.

Transalpen

Awesome pictures, thanks CT. I saw the race from Corkscrew today. The atmosphere was brilliant. I simply can’t believe how fast Cadel climbed up there. Would love to know what time he did it if anyone knows.

Michele

According to TDU feed, Evans averaged 24.5 km/h. The climb was listed at 2.4 Kms long. If that’s the case, then he did it in approx. 6 mins 10 secs.

Robert Gesink now tops the 2.5 km/h strava segment, with 7 minutes and 6 seconds, which supports Evans’ time.

That’s quick.

Sean

Amazing, he was really flying up it. It’d be great if he holds onto the lead, because unlike most riders Cadel gets the ‘non cycling’ public interested. The guys a champion, he’s great for the sport here down under.

Pedr09

24.5 km/hr average is insane for the corkscrew. It is a nasty, nasty climb. Most of the time my garmin was showing single digits.

Michele

Yeah it is insane. I’m not convinced Evans averaged 24.5 on the climb. Gesink’s strava segment said he averaged ‘only’ 21.1 km/h. Either way, it’s still insane.

snailstyle

God I love how he keeps serving up humble pie to all those who bang on about how past it he is. Many who love a good comment on this forum btw. Chapeau Evans. Absolute class act.

Sean

Well said.

Rob_oh

Awesome to see Greipel putting in a big turn on the front for Hansen on the run-in to Corkscrew. A great finale, even on a crappy internet feed (west coast US). By my calculations, Evans put down some huge watts on that climb and was still able to maintain his gap to the line. Anyone know of Cadel’s race schedule this year, other than the Giro?

DNF

Talking of Kittel’s hair, still waiting for Mr Cycling Tips Wade Wallace to keep his promise…

H.E. Pennypacker

Forgive my ignorance, but what do the world-colors stripes on Evans’s jersey indicate? I didn’t realize he held a title this year.

Matt de Neef

They simply indicate that he’s won the world championships in the past.

H.E. Pennypacker

Much appreciated.

Nick

Why is Cadel wearing number 1 in the race instead of Gerrans, who was the winner last year?

Johnson

Because Gerrans didn’t win it last year.

Michele

Hi Nick, as per Johnson’s comment – Gerrans didn’t win last year. The overall was won by Belkin’s Tom-Jelte Slagter.

An argument could be made for Gesink to be wearing it, but the race organisers can use their discretion and select otherwise.

What I find interesting [an no offense to you Nick] is how many casual followers of the sport think Gerrans is the defending champion. At a guess, I think that is indicative of how many people took notice of his Willunga stage win last year.

900Aero

Great coverage of a great stage, thanks guys.
BTW: I think Heinrich Haussler might still pip Marcel K for the best hair.

Paolo

Despite all the OGE, Gerrans, Porte talk and PR going on Cadel showed who’s still the boss in Australian cycling.

Michele

I’m not too fussed with all the OGE talk. My only concern is how Gerry Ryan juggles both of his two hats; as President of Cycling Australia and that as team owner of OGE.

Not sure if it’s just the selected news grabs or not, but Ryan has been quoted as saying it was a slightly disappointing day for OGE, but he’s confident that Gerrans will bounce back.

He may have also said [but I didn’t see it reported], that it was a great day for Australian cycling. Look how far the TDU has progressed in the last 10 years. Gone are the flat, boring, predictable stages. Now we have fast, aggressive, unpredictable racing of the highest calibre.

I’ve followed the TDU since it’s inception, and that finish yesterday [still remembering it’s only January], is right up there with the best stages ever held by the TDU.

Sorry for the cliche, but the real winner yesterday was cycling.

Patrick

notice in those photos at the top that Cadel is the only one in the big ring. chapeau!

Michele

Good pick up. The last several hundred metres of Cookscrew eases off in gradient. I think Evans went back in the big ring at that stage. Haven’t seen the replay yet, but in the flesh, I’m pretty sure he was the only rider I saw who went past me in it.

Paolo

I guess he spend a few years on a team with Gilbert now, so the whole big ring attack on climbs must have gotten to him too. Remember when he won worlds, he said it was the first time he did the climb in the big ring. Big ring for the win!

Michael in Sydney

As always a great race coverage. What I love about the photos is that apart from when the riders are in the race they are nearly all smiling before or after the race. I don’t think I have ever seen Evans look so happy. He did a great ride.

Christos

Its hard to pick who to barrack for in this race with so many excellent Aussies riding, but when Cadel hit the lead yesterday I was out of my chair yelling at the telly, that was just so gutsy, if that doesn’t inspire you to pick out a mountain and go bust your buns on it then nothing will…Truly incredible.